Dispensing device for coiled wire



July 15, 1941.

l K. F. RUSSELL DISPENSING DEVICE OR COILED WIRE Filed Aug. 5, 1940l 9. HAAR/.5

@Y HA RR/J, KMC/1; F067 F04? THE F/RM ALTO g and Patented July 15, 1941 einen ortica 2,249,947 v nisPnNsiNc Davies roacomm wins Application. August 3, 194.0, Serial No. 350,461'

9- Claims.

My invention relates to means for dispensing Wire and refers especially to devices for unwinding stock coils of Wire.

While my invention is applicable Widely'to devices for feeding Wire fromY stock coils, it has special utility for serving Wire-Working machinery Where either the problem of high speed feed or the problem of intermittent speed is encountered. For the purpose of this disclosure, I shall describe the invention as embodied in a device for feeding light Wire 'to a fabricating machine that operates intermittently as well `as at high speed. Such a disclosure will adequately guide those skilled in the art in applying the' invention Wherever it may be of service.

The usual device for feeding wire from a stock coil to a fabricating machine is a reel or other rotating means having substantial mass, and inevitably the inertia involved complicates the problem of synchronizing theffeeding. device With A ning of the feeding device on deceleration of the fabricating machinev releases slack Wire having a strong tendency to loop and snarl that may be dangerous to personnel as Well as costly in production delay. In practice these difficulties often necessitate curtailing the speed of an efhcient Wire-Working machine to comply with the limitations of the coacting wire-feeding device.

The general object of my invention is toprovide a dispensing device that Will feed Wire from a stock coil at exceedingly high speed, that will start and stop feeding the wire as quickly as may be required in the operation of? the consuming machine, and that Will operate so dependably that one attendant can easily maintain a large number of the dispensing devices in simultaneous service without. danger of. costly delays in production.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a Wire-dispensing device that isnonrotating and that holds a stock. coil. stationary throughout the dispensing operation so that the inertia involved is only that of. the length of wire extending from the coil to the point of consumption. A further object in mind is to achieve a rugged and simple construction for such a Wiredispensing. device. I

These and other objects of thy-,invention will be apparent in the following detailed. description, taken vwith the accompanying drawing. Inthe drawing, which is to be. considered as illustrative only: l

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in sectiony of a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2.is a plan View of the device partly broken.

away;

Fig. Sisv a vertical section takenv as indicated by the line 3-3/ of'Figl 2; and

Fig. 4 isv a side elevation partly insection. of a modified form of my invention.

The formV ofthe invention illustrated in Figs.v 1-3 is designedA to feed Wire from above. The particular constructionA shown is used to feed wire in the Wire-working'A apparatus set forth in my copending application Serial No. 350,462 filed of even date herewith, entitled Machine for forming wire coils. In such service the dev-ice is required to'feed relatively'ne wire as` fast as twelveV hundred feet per minute and to start and stop instantly about every two minutes.

The principal parts of the invention include a support means generally designated Ifilfor a stock coil of Wire C, aspreader-Weight or centralizing unit generallydesignated Il', and a guide ringv generally designated I2'V for the unwinding Wire.

The support means II) which has the function; of supporting the coil C in substantially horizontal disposition may compriser a suitably heavy metal plate I3 held at anelevatedpositi'on by a pedestal I5 rising from a base I6, which base may be a frame member yorV other part of the fabricating machine served' by the invention. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the pedestal I5` is a metal cylinder through which extends-a tie rod I'I threaded for engagement by a nutIB overlying the plate I3v and a nut Ztl underlying the base Iz. g

Among the functionsv of the 'spreader-weight or centralizing'unit I`I are: -to'hold the wire coil C firmly downV on the support. plate I3; to centralize the individual turns or windings of the coil C; and to exert a spreading action on the individual turns as the turns are reachedA in the diminishing of the coil.

The function ofthe centralizing unit II in holding down the Wire coil is desirable to keep the coil compact and to oppose any tendency in the'dispensing operation for groups of the individual turns to fly upward from the coil. As forV the centralizing function, it is to be noted that in a stock coil of wire the individual turns are of substantially uniform diameter but lie at random positions within the range of the outer and inner diameters of the assembled coil. For high speed dispensing operation it is highly desirable, if not essential, that the individual turns be made concentric or approach a common axis as they are reached in the diminishing of the coil. The third function of providing a spreading action effective on the turns as they are reached is desirable because maximum diameter favors the unwinding operation and because the tensioning of the wire incidental to the unwinding operation tends to constrict individual turns in the coil. Since this constrictive effect on an individual turn increases inmagnitude as the distance decreases between the turn and the instant winding that is being dispensed, it is desirable to have the spreader eifect of. the centralizing unit accentuated towards the upper layers of the coil,

A feature of my invention is that these various functions desired on the part of a centralizing unit may be provided by a weight means of flared profile dimensioned to extend through the coil from above, to press downward on the coil by its weight, and to overhang and confine the coil. A problem that arises in the design of such a flared weight for cooperation with the support plate I3 arises from the fact that the flared weight must be free to move vertically through the plane of the support plate, and, on the other hand, the support plate must be effective under the supported coil of wire in the downward path of the flared weight. A further feature of my invention is the conception of solving this problem by fabricatingthe flared weight as a radial assembly of vertical wings and providing complementary radially disposed slots in the support plate to freely permit vertical movement of the wing assembly.

While such a flared weight or wing assembly may take various forms in practice, I prefer to mount the radial wings on a central vertical cylinder and to provide clearance through the support plate not only for the wings, but also for the central cylinder. As best shown in Fig. 2, the support plate I3 may have a circular opening 2| from which radiates a plurality of slots 22, and the centralizing unit II includes a vertical cylinder 23 dimensioned to move freely through the circular opening, the cylinder carrying radially disposed wing members 25 dimensioned to pass freely through the slots 22.

It will be noted that in profile the wings 25 flare outward to greater effective diameter towards the upper levels of the centralizing unit so that maximumk spreading effect is exerted in the upper levels of a coil as pressure is exerted on the coil by the weight of the unit. The iiare of the profile may be said to have three zones or levels without definite boundaries: a lower zone in which the primary function of the flaring configuration is to centralize the in-dividual windings of the coil; an intermediate zone in which the iiared coniiguration primarily serves the purpose of tending to increase the diameters of the individual windings as the windings approach their moments of departure from the coil; and an upper zone in which the configuration serves the purpose of holding the coil compactly against the support plate I3 and of preventing individual windings from springing axially upward from the coil.

This aspect of the invention may be better understood by referring to two dotted lines 2B and 2'I in Fig. 3 that approximately bound the intermediate zone.

The function of the guide ring I2 is to cause the wire to be pulled outward and upward from the coil C and to provide a smooth annular surface for sliding contact by the wire. Such a guide ring I2 may, as shown in the drawing, be a simple annular member that is circular in cross section and smooth on its peripheral surfaces. I find it convenient to mount the guide ring I2 on the centralizing unit II, and in the practice exempliiied by the drawing the guide ring I2 is unitary with the outer ends of the blade members 25 and serves to interconnect and brace the blade members.

While the combination of the support means IG, the centralizing unit I|, and the guide ring I2 described to this point may be constructed to serve my purpose of dispensing wire in a satisfactory manner so long as the wire is drawn upward over the peripheral surface of the guide ring, I add certain refinements in practice. For example, in the preferred form of my invention I employ a pulling guide 30, a plurality of inner guards 3|, and an outer guard 32, any or all of which may be omitted.

The function of the pulling guide 3l] is to cause the wire as it leaves the peripheral surface of the guide ring I2 to be drawn not only upward but also inward towards the extended axis of the coil C. In unwinding from the coil the departing wire is continuously displaced in one rotary direction around the periphery of the guide ring I2. If the wire as it leaves the guide ring I2 is pulled inward as well as upward, the departing wire forms a boW 35 (Fig. 1) that travels in a continuous circular path about the guide ring I2, the bowing of the wirebeing the result of centrifugal force. The pulling guide 30 in Figs. 1-3 is a smooth-surfaced ring member unitary with the upper end of the cylinder 23. It will be noted that the wire strand 36 being dispensed from the coil C passes downward through the cylinder 23 so that the pulling guide 30 not only serves to cause the wire to be directed inward and upward as it leaves the guide ring, but also serves as means for turning the wire downward towards the point of consumption belowv the device.

The plurality of inner guards 3| may be desirable because the circular opening 2| in the support plate I3 is dimensioned for liberal clearance around the cylinder 23 and individual'turns of the wire coil may drop into the clearance space around the cylinder and thereby interfere with the function of the centralizing unit II'. In the arrangement illustrated by the drawing, the inner guards 3| are metal tongues extending upward from the base plate I3 around the rim of the hole 2| between the various radial slots 22. The plurality of tongues may take the form of segments of a circular wall, the segments being separated by vertical slots 31 continuous with the radial slots 22 in the support plate I3.

The outer guard 32 which serves the purpose of limiting the effect of centriiigual action on the bowed portion 35 of the departing wire may consist o-f an arcuate sheet or metal screen spaced from the periphery of the guide ring I2 and anchored to the support plate I3 by suitable connecting members 40.

The operation of my invention may be readily understood from the foregoing discussion. The centralizing unit II sinks downward as the coil C diminishes in cross-sectional' dimension and serves continuously toaffect the coil and theiin.- dividual windings of the coil; in the various respects heretofore mentioned. 'Ille dispensing operation proceeds smoothly and uniformly. An' attendant supervising a number `of the-dispensing devices can-tell at a glance how soon a stock coil in process must be replaced. To expedite replacement spare coils may be held in reserve on the support plate I@ alongside the outer guard; 32. The modified form `of my invention shownin Fig. 4 is designed for installationsl where the wire is to be fed upward to a wire-working machine above the dispensing device. In this form` of the invention most parts of the combination are unchanged as indicated by the use of like numbers to indicate like parts. Instead of the relatively long cylinder 23 of Fig. l, I use a relatively short cylinder 4l in Fig. 4 because in this form of the invention the cylinder does not support the pulling guide 3B. The pulling guide designated 42 in Fig. 4 is mounted on the upper restricted rim of a circular outer guard 33. It will be noted that the internal diameter of the pull-ing guide 42 is substantially smaller than the diameter of the guide ring l2 so that the departing wire 45 passing upward through the pulling guide is drawn inward towards the extended axis of the coil C.

The preferred form of my invention described in specific detail herein will suggest to those skilled in the art various changes, modifications, and substitutions that do not depart from the spirit of the invention; I reserve the right to all such variations that properly come within the scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition; a nonrotating means of flared configuration adapted to rest in and on said coil to tend to spread said coil radially, said means being free to descend as the coil diminishes; and a guide ring above said coil larger in diameter than the individual turns of the coil, said guide ring having a smooth circumferential surface whereby wire may be drawn upward over said smooth circumferential surface and in sliding over said surface in a continuous rotary direction around the guide ring.

2. A dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition; a non-rotating means of fiared configuration adapted to rest in and on said coil to tend to spread said coil radially, said means being free to descend as the coil diminishes; a guide ring above said coil larger in diameter than the individual turns of the coil, said guide ring having a smooth circumferential surface; and means to direct the wire upward and inward relative to said guide ring whereby the wire is drawn from the coil across said circumferential surface and in departing from the surface travels in a continuous rotary direction around the guide ring.

3. A dispensing device for a coil of wire cornprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition; a non-rotating means of flared configuration adapted to rest in and on said coil to tend to spread said coil radially, said flared means being free to descend as the coil diminishes; a guide ring above said coil larger in diameter than the individual turns of the coil, said guide ring having a smooth circumferential surface; means to direct the wire upward and inward relative-to said guide ring whereby the wireis drawn fromthe coilAv across-'said circumferential surfaceY and in departing from the surface travels ina continu'- ous` rotary direction around the guide ring; Vand Y a guard'su'rrounding said: guide ring in spaced relation to confine said departing portion of the Wire.

i 4. Ay dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means forsupporting thev coil of wire inl substantially horizontal disposition; a non-rotating means of flared configuration adapted to rest in` and on saidy coil to tend to spread' said coil radially; a guide ring mounted .on said dared means above saidv coil, said guide ring havingy a .smooth circumferential surface and being of substantially larger diameter than the individual turns of said coil; and means to direct the wire across the ycircumferential surface of said guide ring and both upward from the guide ring and inward towards the axis of the guide ring.

5. A dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition, said support means having a plurality of slots radially disposed with reference to a center under the coil; a unitary assembly of radial wings corresponding to and extending through said slots, said assembly flaring in prole from a lower diameter less than the inner diameter of the coil to an upper diameter substantially greater than the inner diameter of the coil, said assembly being adapted to rest upon the coil and to descend to follow the diminishing configuration of the coil; and a guide ring positioned above the coil and substantially concentric therewith, said guide ring having a smooth circumferential surface larger in diameter than the individual turns of the coil whereby the wire may be drawn upward to travel in la continuous direction around and across said circumferential surface as the wire unwinds from the coil.

6. A dispensing means as set forth in claim 5 in which a plurality of inner guards for the coil extend upward from said support means within the coil and between said slots.

'7. A dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition, said support means having an opening and a plurality of slots extending outwardly from said opening; means movable vertically through said opening; a plurality of members mounted on said movable means in positions to register with said slots,

Y said plurality of members having a flared conguration in profile and being adapted to rest in and on said coil; and a guide ring larger than the individual turns of the coil connected with said movable body above said plurality of members, said guide ring having a smooth circ ferential surface whereby the wire may be drawn upward to travel in a continuous direction around said circumferential surface as it unwinds from the coil.

8. A `dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition, said support means having a circular opening and a plurality of radial slots extending outward from and communicating with said opening; a cylindrical body dimensioned to move vertically through said sioned Iand disposed to move freely vertically through said slots; and a guide ring connected with said body to overhang said coil, said guide ring being larger in diameter `than the turns of the coil and having a smooth circumferential surface whereby the wire may be drawn upward to travel in a continuous direction around the circumferential surface as its unwinds from the coil.

9. A dispensing device for a coil of wire comprising: means for supporting the coil of wire in substantially horizontal disposition, said support means having a circular opening and a plurality of radial slots extending outward from and communicating with said opening; a cylindrical body dimensioned to move vertically through said opening; a plurality of radially disposed vertical wing members unitary with said body dimensioned and disposed to move freely vertically through said slots; a guide ring connected with said body to overhang said coil, said guide ring having a larger diameter than the turns of the coil and having a smooth circumferential surface; and a second ring of smaller diameter spaced above said guide ring to conne the wire after it leaves the coil whereby the wire in departing from the coil is drawn first over the periphery of said guide ring and then across the surface of said upper ring and travels simultaneously in a circular path between the two rings.

KENNETH F. RUSSELL. 

